Carton closing machine



Sept. 2, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1953 N 2% N6 C MW N0 /M/Mr w M5 7 w ATTORlVfY L. M GIHON CARTON CLOSING MACHINE sept. 2, 1958 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16. 1953 FIG. 6.

lNVENTOR l EONARD MFG/HON ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1958 L. M5GIHON CARTONCLOSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 16, 1953 AFTORMFY UnitedStates Patent CARTON CLOSING MAC Leonard McGihon, San Leandro, Calif.,assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Alexander Donald, doing business as King Sales &Engineering Co.

Application November 16, 1953, Serial No. 392,158

7 Claims. (Cl. 53-374) The present invention is concerned with cartonclosing machines and relates moreparticularly-to a carton closingmachine for closing a carton by tucking or folding in certain side flapportions thereof.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a machine of theabove character in which the cartons are closed successively andautomatically as they are passed through the machine, whichautomatically closes or tucks four separate flaps.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carton tucking machineof the character described in the foregoing objects in which theindividual tucking mechanisms can be made as duplicate units, but byvarying theirrelation and positioning to the cartons to be adapted totuck the opposite pair of end flaps, i. e. at the front andrear of thecarton respectively.

Other-objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure, 1 is a perspective view of the carton in collapsed. conditionwhich-is adapted to be used in the instant machine.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carton in erected position, andopen at the sides for introduction of containers.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a partially closed carton ready forfeeding to the machine.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one corner of the carton showingthecondition and position of theflap after it is folded and tucked intoplace.

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of the carton closing or tuckingmachine.

Figure 6 is an elcvational view of one of the, cartontucking orflap-tucking mechanisms, with certain portions. broken away and showingsections to illustratev details of construction.

Figure 7 is a plan view, partially in section, of the mechanism shown inFigure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the flaptucking blades of themachine.

Figures 9, 10 and ll, respectively, are schematic plan views showingdifferent phases of the operation of the tucking of the front or leadingflaps of a carton.

Figures 12 and 13 are similar schematic plan views showing successiveoperations in thetucking of the rear o r trailing flaps of the carton.

Referring to the drawings, Figures l-4 illustrate one type of, cartonadapted to be closed by the machine of lines 16a, and side flaps 17 atthe sides of the end walls thereto by and 1.4 15, respectively, and a K-na-J' my aging at 2,849,846 Patented Sept. 2, 1958 Ice scored bend lines17a. Also at the top and bottom of each end side flap 17, there isprovided a diagonal scored line 17b for a gusset type corner fold inclosing a carton.

The carton 10 is shown in. Figure 1 in collapsed condition as it isdelivered from the carton maker, and subse quently it is erected as.shown in Figure 2 and the containers inserted therein after which theend flaps. 17

are foldedvin for and the side flaps 16 at the top and bottom are foldeddown and up, respectively, as shown in Figure 3 so that the cartoninthiscondition, and withv the opposite sides similarly folded is readyfor. the carton closing operation. This operation consists essentiallyof bending in or folding the flaps 17 a further amount on their scoredbend lines. 17a until they lie'flat against the respective end walls 13and l4l5 being held in place by the containers 18 (Figure 4) which inthe present instance are shown as being in the form of cans. Cartons ofthischaracter are shown and described in my copending application,Serial No. 402,872, filed January-8, 1954, for Carton.

Referring to Figure 5, the carton closing or tucking machine includes aframe comprising four angle rails 21 which are spaced apart for fittingof a closed carton therein, without the flaps 17 being tucked. At thebottom of thistunnel or track containing the cartons, a chain- 22 issuitably mounted having progressors 23 extending up therefrom one ofwhich will engage each carton as it is placed inthe entrance end of thetunnel frame and progress the carton along in timed relation to theother cartons past four tucking mechanisms 26 and-271 It will be notedthat there are two carton tucking units 26 for engaging the side flaps17 at the leading or front edge of the carton, and two carton tuckingmechanisms 27 for engaging the trailing or rear flaps 17 of: the.carton. The pairs of mechanisms 26" and 27 need not be timed withrespect to each other, but only with respect tothe progressors 23feeding the cartons therepast'.

. Because the various tucking mechanisms 26 and 27 are essentiallyidentical in construction, only one will be described. in detail.

Referring-to Figures 6tand 7, one of the tucking units 26 is illustratedand includes a pair. of. opposed disks 31 and 3,2. which are carried byan upright drive shaft 33 and securedin spaced relation thereon. The:disks 3i and 32' carry two similar tucking means spaced 1809' apart, andforxeach, tucking,v means havepivotally journalled therein an'uprightshaft 34which carries a boss 36 having a pair, of arms 37 securedthereto in vertically spaced relation and carrying a pivot pin 40between their outer ends. The arms. 3.7 form-a part of the parallellinkage including: a second pair of parallel arms 38 having a boss 39journalled on a pin 41- secured between. the plates-31 and 32. The-arms33' and 37' are parallel to each other and carry at their outer endsrespective pins 42 and an on which a blade arm 44 ispivotally mounted byrespective bosses 45'. The bladearm 44 has a tucking blade 46 extendingtherefrom, this tuck-- ing blade including a pair of vertically spaced,round fingers 47 to perform the actual tuckingoperation. The

upper end of shaft. 33, carries a lever 51 having a cam follower roller.52 journalled therein and engaged with a cam track 53and a movable carn'member or track.

portion 54., The cam track :33: istsuitably mounted in stationaryposition above the related tucking assembly, and the cam track 53thereof is circular in configuration except for a cam depression56-opposite whichthe movable carn member 54'is mounted. The cam member54 is pivotally secured'by a pin 5'7 in a plate 58pmounted on the camtrack 53 andhas a. cam portion 59'projecting into the cam track'andspring urged into position suitably-engaged" at its opposite end with aportion of the plate 58. The cam member 54 carries a screw 62 whichengages the cam track 53 so that the extent of penetration of the camsurface 59 can be adjusted. The yieldable mounting of the cam member 54provides against breakage in the event of a jam in the operation of thetucking blade 46 so that no parts will be broken.

Referring to Figures 9, l and 11, three positions of the tucker blade 46in various stages of the operation are shown including a position inFigure 9 which is the normal position of the tucker blade 46 with theroller 52 riding on the long dwell of the cam track 53. In this normalposition of the tucker blade 46, it moves in to engage the aligned flap17 and makes an initial bend therein. The timing of the carton withrespect to the tucker blade is such that this initial bend in thetucloin flap is performed by the tucker blade along its normal path oftravel and it will be noted that the cam follower roller 52 is justahead of the depression 56 opposite the protuberance 59 of the countercam member 54. During the continued movement of the carton from theposition shown in Figure 9 to that shown in Figure 10, the tucker blade46 moves inwardly, and accelerates relative to the carton to place theflap 17 behind the adjacent container 18 and flat against the end wall15-17 of the carton, this wall being slightly flexed during theoperation. As the carton is moving, it progresses from the relativeposition shown in Figure 10 with respect to the center line and thetucker blade 46 being withdrawn, the flap 17 being securely held inplace by the adjacent container.

It will be noted that the tucker blade 46 in its relation to the travelof the carton has three phases. During its normal rotating movement itis travelling at substantially the same speed as the carton (Figure 9),during its advance to the position shown in Figure 10, by virtue of thepivoting of the parallel linkage 37-38, etc., it is accelerated withrespect to its regular rate of travel, and during its withdrawal, i. e.,to the position shown in Figure 10, it decelerates back to its normalrotating speed.

The operation of unit 27 is shown in Figures 12 and 13 and it is notedthat the operation is generally similar to that shown with respect tothe tucker blade 46, except that the tucker blade 61 of unit 27 isoppositely angled with respect to the carton, being in trailing relationin its direction of rotation so that when it is projected, it iseffectively decelerated with respect to its regular rate of travel, andwhen it is withdrawn it is effectively accelerated so as to leave thetucked-in flap in place and to clear the carton in leaving. The oppositeangle of the tucker blades is effected by inverting the tuckingassemblies. It will be noted that as the tucking assemblies for thefront and rear flaps are timed only with respect to the flaps, themachine is useful with cartons of varying length.

While I have shown a preferred form of the invention, y

it will be apparent that the invention is capable of variation andmodification from the form shown, so that its scope should be limitedonly by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a carton closing machine, a conveyer for progressing a cartonalong a path, said carton having at one side thereof respective flaps inleading and trailing position in the direction of travel of the cartonfor folding inwardly to a closed position in parallel relation to anadjacent wall of the carton, tucking means for said flaps disposed alongsaid path including a carton entering element engageable with at leastone of said flaps to move said one flap to its closed position, saidtucking means also including means for carrying said element to enterthe carton in moving said one flap to said closed position and means foroperating said carton conveyer and said tucking means in synchronism.

2. In a carton closing machine, a conveyer for progressing a cartonalong a path, said carton having at one side thereof respective flaps inleading and trailing position in the direction of travel of the cartonfor folding inwardly to a closed position in parallel relation to anadjacent wall of the carton, tucking means for said flaps disposed alongsaid path including respective carton entering tucking blades oppositelyinclined with respect to said path and engageable with said flaps tomove said flaps to closed position, said tucking means also includingmeans for causing said blade to enter the carton in moving said flaps tosaid closed position and means for operating said carton conveyer andsaid tucking means in synchronism.

3. In a carton closing machine, a conveyer for progressing a carton withcans therein along a path, said carton having at one side thereofrespective flaps in leading and trailing position in the direction oftravel of the carton and including a flap folding inwardly to a closedposition in parallel relation to an adjacent wall of the carton, cartonentering tucking means for said flap disposed along said path includingan element engageable with said flap to produce a ninety degree foldthereof to closed condition, said tucking means also including means forcausing said element to enter the carton between an adjacent containerand a carton wall in moving said flap to closed position between saidcontainer and said wall, and means for operating said carton conveyerand said tucking means in synchronism.

4. In a carton closing machine, a conveyer for progressing a carton withcontainers therein along a path, said carton having a flap foldinginwardly to a closed position in parallel relation to an adjacent wallof the carton and disposed between said wall and an adjacent container,tucking means for said flap disposed along said path including a tuckingblade disposed in angled relation to said path engageable with said flapto produce a ninety degree fold thereof to closed condition, saidtucking means also including means for causing said blade to enterbetween a container and said adjacent wall in moving said one flap tosaid closed position, and means for operating said carton conveyer andsaid tucking means in synchronism.

5. In a carton closing machine, a conveyer for progressing a cartonalong a path, said carton having a flap folding inwardly to a closedposition in parallel relation to an adjacent wall of the carton, tuckingmeans for said flap disposed along said path including a rotary support,a parallel linkage mounted on said support, a tucking blade carried bysaid linkage and engageable with said flap to produce a ninety degreefold thereof to closed condition, means for controlling movement of saidblade during rotation of said support to change its speed relative tothe speed of the carton and to effect a carton entering movement duringthe tucking operation, and means for operating said carton conveyer andsaid tucking means in synchronism.

6. In a calton closing machine, said carton having respective front andrear flaps at one side thereof for folding through an angle to a closedposition in parallel relation to an adjacent wall of the carton, saidmachine comprising a carton conveyer for moving a carton along a path, afront flap closing mechanism including a tucking assembly having atucking blade disposed at an angle to the path of the conveyer and meansfor projecting said tucking blade outwardly to engage the front flap toenter the carton in moving it to closed position, a rear flap tuckingassembly including a tucking assembly having a tucking blade angled tothe path of the conveyer and means for projecting said second-namedblade to enter the carton in moving said rear flap to closed condition,and means for driving said conveyer and said tucking mechanisms insynchronism with each other.

7. In a carton closing machine, means for supporting a carton with thecontainers therein, said carton having at one side thereof respectiveflaps at opposite edges thereof extending in a direction parallel to thelength or height of the containers, said flaps :being adapted to befolded inwardly past a container to a closed position in parallelrelation to and adjacent wall of the carton and between and in contactwith said wall and an adjacent container, tucking means mounted on saidmachine including a carton entering element extending parallel to thelength of said flaps and engageable with at least one of said flaps tomove said flap between said wall and said adjacent container to itsclosed position, said tucking means also in 6 tainer and the adjacentwall, and means for operating said tucking means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,519,111 Chapman Aug. 15, 1950 2,625,778 Wood Ian. 20, 1953 2,739,430Griswold et al. Mar. 27, 1956 2,765,603 Rose Oct. 9, 1956

